Football: New bosses can give Chichester Ladies a lift

Chichester City Ladies are looking forward to an exciting new era with Liam Greenfield and Dick Semark taking charge of the first team and development squad for the first time.

The first team had a disappointing season last year under the guidance of Matt Wright but Greenfield is philosophical about how that can have a positive impact on their forthcoming campaign in the FA Women’s Premier League division one.

“It was a season of huge transition, with several players leaving the club and several coming in, but we ended the season with a strong core of players which we have managed to keep,” he said.

Greenfield has made several new exciting signings, including Jade Widdows, who has recently returned from a stint in the USA, Shannon Albuery from the Hampshire centre of excellence and Tammy Waine, the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion player.

With the promise of ex-captain and club stalwart Jade Widdowson returning to fitness as well, Greenfield is more than happy with the squad.

“In my opinion we have the best squad of players I have seen in my four years at the club,” he added.

The development squad have longer to organise themselves – they start in early September – but Semark is clear on the main objectives of the team that fall in line with the club’s philosophy.

“Our main aim is to back our first team and to give our young squad more confidence and to improve their individual games,” said Semark.

Behind the scenes the newly-formed committee, chaired by previous first-team manager Matt Wright, are working hard to develop the structure required to meet the club’s long-term ambitions.

He said: “We have two fantastic managers in Liam and Dick and it is essential we give them everything they need to support them and their coaching staff.

“We want our club to operate with a high level of professionalism and reach a standard that has never been achieved before by a female team in this city.”

More about the club and their fixtures can be found at www.chichesterladiesfootball.co.uk

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